Basement Decision!?

Hello everyone.
Been lurking a while.. decided it was well worth my time to register.

Have a question for someone to give some expert advice on...
Just recently purchased a new house in Ontario... So rather cold winters.
I am planning on finishing the basement starting this upcoming weekend. The builder has put 'blanket' style poly insulation directly on the concrete walls down below the frost line. The bottom foot is not covered with this material. My question is, I am on the fence whether or not to stud over this builders insulation, or should I tear it down and put up rigid insulation against the concrete, stud in front and then but batt insulation in between the studs?
Obviously one way will cost more, but we plan on using the basement for quite a few things... (movie room, poker room, wet bar etc etc) and will most likely make it much warmer in the winter months.

By studding over the stuff that is there, I lose about 7" around the perimeter of the basement on all walls, which seems significant to me..

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Basement Decision!?

Yep, I would highly suggest 2" of xps directly on concrete and frame a 2x4 wall in front of that. Lots of great posts on this site pertaining to that with more detail, but it will give you more room and give the proper moisture and condensation protection.

Basement Decision!?

Thanks for the respones so far guys.
In your opinion, would it be better to frame the 2x4 wall tight up against the rigid insulation or leave a gap. I have heard arguements on both sides. Trying to find a defining point that wins the battle.

Basement Decision!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuuluuwag

Thanks for the respones so far guys.
In your opinion, would it be better to frame the 2x4 wall tight up against the rigid insulation or leave a gap. I have heard arguements on both sides. Trying to find a defining point that wins the battle.

If you are going with the xps tight on the concrete the only reasons to leave a gap to the framing would be to square up the room or maybe if there were pipes in the way. Even if you want to put some additional insulation in the stud cavities there would enough room with it tight to the xps.

Generally, gaps were used to help with moisture coming off the concrete, but the xps will control that.